Line Change
Maatta will be a healthy scratch on Sunday.
Maatta will come out of the lineup on Sunday with Adam Boqvist returning from a one-game absence due to a shoulder injury.
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Calgary Flames News
Suspension
The NHL has suspended Joel Farabee for three games for his hit on Mathieu Perreault on Sunday.
Farabee was suspended for his "interference" on Perreault in the blowout loss. Perreault is out with a concussion and Farabee will miss the next three contests. This is a poorly timed suspension for the Flyers, who were without Travis Konecny, Oskar Lindblom, Tyler Pitlick, Scott Laughton, Michael Raffl and Nolan Patrick on Sunday.
The Devils have acquired Kevin Bahl, Nick Merkley, Nate Schnarr, a 2020 first-round pick and 2021 conditional third-round pick from the Coyotes for Taylor Hall and Blake Speers.
Bahl was a second-round pick (No.55 overall) in 2018 and is in his fourth OHL season. The 19-year-old defenseman has 20 points (5G / 15A) in 28 games with the Ottawa 67’s and is currently in camp for Canada’s World Juniors team.
Maatta (illness) will return to the Blackhawks lineup on Thursday.
Maatta missed the last four games with an illness but will replace Calvin de Haan, who is on IR with a shoulder injury. Maatta has eight points (1G / 7A) while averaging 1.2 shots and 1.3 blocked shots in 27 games this season.
Maatta (illness) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.
Maatta missed Wednesday's practice and is questionable to play Thursday in Boston. If Maatta can't play, look for Dennis Gilbert to draw into the Blackhawks lineup.
Huberdeau (illness) is expected to play on Saturday.
Huberdeau missed Friday's practice but head coach Joel Quenneville said that he should be good to play vs. the Predators. Huberdeau enters the weekend with five goals and 13 assists (18 points) in his last 13 games.
Hunt cleared waivers and has been assigned to Springfield (AHL).
Hunt appeared in all 20 games this season, picking up just four assists and 32 shots while playing 10:47 ATOI. He goes back to Springfield, where he dominated last season, posting 44 points (23G / 21A) in 51 games.
The Flyers have recalled Morgan Frost from Lehigh Valley (AHL).
Frost, who has picked No.27 overall in 2017, is one of the Flyers' top prospects and has registered 12 points (5G / 7A) in his first 16 career AHL games. Frost takes Carsen Twarynski's spot on the roster and should make his NHL debut in Florida on Tuesday.
Strome (illness) is in the Rangers lineup on Sunday.
Strome (illness) is expected to play Sunday vs. Boston.
Strome missed Saturday's practice but head coach David Quinn is expecting Strome to play on Sunday. Strome has played well as of late, scoring two goals with four assists (six points) in his last six games.
The Stars have recalled Joel Hanley from Texas (AHL).
Hanley recorded one assist in two games with the Stars earlier in October before returning to Texas. He was held pointless in two AHL games but returns to the Stars where he will likely serve as an extra defenseman on Thursday.
Farabee was recalled from Lehigh Valley (AHL) and is expected to make his NHL debut on Monday.
Farabee was one of the final cuts in training camp and one of the Flyers’ best prospects. After scoring just 15 goals in six games (2.50 GF/gm) the Flyers are looking to inject some offence into their lineup. Farabee was a first-round pick (No.14 overall) in 2018 and has registered three goals and one assist in his first four AHL games. The 19-year-old is expected to make his debut on the third line (with Kevin Hayes and Scott Laughton) and the first power-play unit.
The Stars have recalled Joel Hanley from Texas (AHL).
With Roman Polak out long-term, the Stars had to dig into their farm system over the last 24 hours. Hanley failed to register a point in 16 NHL games last year but had 28 points (8G / 20A) in 60 AHL contests.
Backlund (lower-body) will play in the Flames season opener.
Backlund has been dealing with a lower-body injury since the late stages of the preseason but is ready to go in Colorado. Backlund, who will centre the second line with familiar linemates (Tkachuk and Frolik) had 21 goals and 26 assists (47 points) last season.
The Flyers have sent Joel Farabee to Lehigh Valley (AHL).
Farabee, who was a first-round pick (No.14 overall) in 2018 nearly made the Flyers opening night roster but the last second return of Tyler Pitlick has pushed him to the AHL to begin the year. The 19-year-old had 17 goals and 19 assists (36 points) in 37 games at Boston University last season.
Backlund (lower-body) is questionable for Thursday’s season opener.
Backlund was on the ice for Wednesday’s practice but remains a question mark heading into the first game of the year. Monitor his status during tomorrow’s morning skate and expect Sam Bennett to replace him on the second line if he doesn’t play.
Frost will be out 5-to-7 days with a groin strain.
Frost seemed like a front-runner to at start the season with the Flyers, but this injury all but guarantees that he will end up in the AHL next week. While this is bad news for Frost, it opens the door for fellow rookies German Rubtsov and Joel Farabee to make the opening night roster.
The Golden Knights have signed Brayden Pachal to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Pachal was an undrafted free agent who had 15 goals with 36 assists (51 points) in 66 games with the Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) in 2019. He’ll report for a fifth WHL season with the Raiders in 2020.
The Panthers have re-signed Dryden Hunt to a one-year, two-way contract.
Hunt split his 2019 season between the NHL and AHL, posting 44 points (23G / 21A) in 51 games with Springfield (AHL) and 10 points (3G / 7A) in 31 games with Florida (NHL). Despite moderate NHL success, Hunt will likely start 2020 in the AHL.
The Flames have re-signed Ryan Lomberg to a one-year contract.
Lomberg had 29 points (12G / 17A) in 58 games with Stockton (AHL) last season and had a brief four-game showing with the Flames, where he had 17 PIMS. Lomberg is a fourth-line player who could have a spot in Calgary next year after Garnet Hathaway signed with the Capitals this summer.
